Kodandaram formally announces launch of TJS

Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) chairman M. Kodandaram formally announced launching of a new political party here on Monday. The new party is named Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS). TJAC is a non-political platform comprising political parties, employees associations and other people's organisations that led the Telangana statehood movement.

Announcing the new political outfit, Mr. Kodandaram said the decision to launch the party was taken at TJAC farmers’ meeting held on February 4.

Speaking on the occasion, the TJAC chairman launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao stating that both the political power and administration were highly centralised in Telangana as most of the decisions were being taken by the CM himself without any democratic and administrative process.

“The Chief Minister is conducting departmental review meetings without even the presence and knowledge of the Ministers concerned and it is nothing but undermining the spirit of Council of Ministers or Cabinet,” Mr. Kodandaram said giving an example of the way things are going on in Telangana. He said that the objective of TJS would not be coming to power alone but to bring a qualitative change with fundamental shift in the way politics is practiced in the State.

The TJAC chairman alleged that the first government of Telangana had ignored the aspirations of people who believed that their lives would change for better with the formation of new State. However, the problems of unemployment, agriculture crisis and others still remain unaddressed by the government , he noted.

Stating that misuse of resources and corruption were high in the government, he cited excessive short-term power purchases, irregularities in de-silting of minor irrigation tanks under Mission Kakatiya, sand mining and distribution of tractors were among others as examples. In irrigation sector, it’s not engineers but the ruling party leaders and the contractors who are taking the decisions, he alleged.

Explaining the reasons for coming into direct politics, Mr. Kodandaram said it was felt necessary to fight the system by being in the political realm rather than staying outside. Besides, the government's attitude of repression, including denying of permissions for public meetings, campaigns (yatras) and protests, which are part of any democratic system, had also made them to come into politics.

Inception meet

Mr. Kodandaram said constitution of the party was finalised and it would be announced along with the release of party flag on April 4.

Similarly, the inception meeting of the party would be held here on April 29.

Responding to a question whether TJS would ally with like-minded parties, he said they would go it alone as they want to be different from “routine parties”.